Faculty & Staff

Director: Lisa Shapiro

Studio owner since 1988. Teaches company level classes in jazz, tap, ballet, and pointe. Choreographer for high school musicals including: Cats, Damn Yankees, Back to the 80s, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Guys and Dolls, and Hello Dolly. Sponsor and choreographer for Northville High School Varsity Dance Team. Co-creator of an in-house Ballet Company for 18 years that performed original choreography in fairy tale themed shows including Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, The Wiz of Oz, Anastasia, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, Oliver, Read Me A Story, The King and I, Annie, and The Wizard of Oz. Previous teaching experience includes team-teaching the dance program three years at a public high school. Joined her childhood dance teacher to run the after school dance program at Ferndale High School in 1979; took over the program in 1981.

Asst. Studio Director, Director of Summer Camps, and Bookkeeper : Becky Hicks

Asst. Studio Director, Director of Summer Camps, and Bookkeeper: Becky Hicks Becky founded the Lyrical dance program at CSDC in 1999 and spearheaded the formation of the Center Stage Dance Team in 2008. Her modern training (from Western Michigan University) is clearly evident in the Lyrical syllabus. Choreographer of several high school musicals, she continues to set musical theater choreography on the Dance Team for presentation at local competitions. Continuing education has included classes with Christopher Huggins, Gregory Patterson, Jason Parsons, and Rhonda Miller. Bi-annual trips to New York and local dance conventions support fresh and current teaching styles and methods. Teaching jazz, lyrical, preschool, and hip hop at Center Stage since 1989.

FRONT OFFICE

Lisa Shapiro, Becky Hicks, Renee Siracusa, Erin Sattler, Erin Goldsworthy, Allie Shapiro
Directs staff of six desk apprentices as well as daily bookkeeping, retail, and informational responsibilities.

SENIOR FACULTY

Erin Bonser-Sattler -

(BS, Wayne State University, K-12 Dance Education and 6-12 Health Education)  While dancing at Wayne State University, Ms. Erin  performed with CompanyOne, Wayne's in-house dance company.  During her two years as member, she traveled with the group to inner city elementary schools to perform a children's based dance program. Ms. Erin has taught at Livonia Churchill High School in their Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) program. Choreography experience includes Northville High School's production of Cats and Dexter High School's production of Back to the 80s. Ms. Erin teaches tap, ballet, jazz and pointe at CSDC.

Erin Goldsworthy – Graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in communications and economics. Trained for two years in the EMU Dance program in modern and ballet. Performance experience includes dancing with the Peter Sparling Dance Company in Ann Arbor.Co-director of an in-house Ballet Company for 8 years that performed original choreography in fairy tale themed shows including, Cinderella,  The Little Mermaid, The Wiz of Oz, Anastasia,  The Lion King, Oliver,  Annie, and The Wizard of Oz. Currently responsible for the maintenance and development of the studio website. She is also back at Eastern Michigan pursuing her post-baccalaureate teaching certificate. Dancing at Center Stage since 1994. Teaches: jazz, ballet, pointe, hip hop, and preschool.

Tara Keating-graduated from The University of the Arts with a BFA in Jazz Dance Education where she was awarded the Outstanding Student Teaching Award.  Her previous positions include; Adjunct Faculty Member, Lecturer, and Interim Administrative Assistant for University of the Arts Dance Department, Festival Coordinator for the 9th National High School Dance Festival, Production Assistant for the Garden State Dance Festival, choreographer for West Chester University’s Dance Company, University of Pennsylvania - Sparks Dance Team, Camp Wilma and Welsh Valley Middle School.  Tara was a six-year member, Captain, and 2006 Pro Bowl Cheerleader for The Philadelphia Eagles. As a cheerleader, she traveled overseas to Kosovo and Bosnia to entertain the U.S. troops, performed for Super Bowl XXIX, Super Bowl XXXI, and the New Year’s Celebration in Hong Kong.  She fulfills her dance passion through educating dancers and fitness fanatics in ballet, jazz, lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, & Zumba throughout the Metro Detroit Area.  In her spare time, Tara is an independent make-up artist for photography and special events.

Heather Rose – 5th grade teacher at Wooddale Elementary in Farmington Hills; graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a BS in elementary education with a focus in math and health education ; dancing at Center Stage since 1989. Teaches: ballet and pointe.

Allie Shapiro- Graduate of Grand Valley State University with a BS in Health Professions.  Currently attending Madonna University, completing additional classes necessary to become a Registered Dietitian.  Dancing at Center Stage since 1990, continued involvement in dance through college and is now back in the area teaching ballet, tap and pre-school. 

Carly Siracusa-Graduate of University of Michigan with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology; currently working in Consumer Marketing for an apparel company.  Her dance background includes training in NYC, danced competitively in NYC and the Tri-State area, part of a Performing Arts Institute in NYC all through high school where she was trained by Broadway professionals and a former Rockette, as well as performing in Disney World.  Taught and apprenticed for several years while in NYC and has won awards for her choreography.  Dancing at Center Stage since 2002.

Jessie Stadnika - At Eastern Michigan University she is pursuing a BS degree in Dance Management and a BBA degree in General Business.  She is also the fundraising coordinator for the EMU Dance Forum.  Dancing at Center Stage since 1994. Teaches: Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical and Pre-School.

JUNIOR FACULTY

Kelly Owens, Taylor Clark

All Junior Faculty are high school students who have come up through our Apprentice Program. Their own dance backgrounds are extensive in both experience and exposure to a wide variety of techniques. All Junior Faculty take weekly classes in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and lyrical. Our Junior teachers participate in intra-studio workshops for choreography, class management and people skills. Regular evaluations help them to improve their teaching and communication skills.

APPRENTICE PROGRAM

Apprentices: Taylor Clark, Gianna Galli, Gina Mahaz, Elisabeth Moore, Kelly Owens, Elena Winberry, and Torie Smith, and Emily Gantt.

Studio Assisstants: Claire Varvatos, Emma Rife, Lauren Nash, Raegan Carlstein, Emma Callahan, Paige Rafferty, and Sabrina Montemayor.

Apprentice Program Mission Statement

• To teach senior level dancers the art and mechanics of operating a dance studio business including: dance instruction, choreography, communication skills, systems management, building management, and time management.
• To demonstrate the skills necessary to instruct, nurture and develop young dancers in their pursuit of technique, self-esteem and FUN!
•  To enhance the instructional flow by providing each teacher with an assistant. In time, the apprentice will assume a co-teacher role. The effect of ‘team-teaching’ will be that of a better student-to-teacher ratio and in the absence of the primary instructor the apprentice will perpetuate the class routine.
• Minimum age of an apprentice is 14, or a freshman in high school. As our program has grown, the most typical entry age for an apprentice is 15, or a sophomore in high school.
• Apprentices are invited by the director to participate in the program. Considerations for invitation include: skill level, commitment, attitude, level of participation in studio activities, leadership qualities, and dependability.
• Apprentices are compensated by the hour. They are required to document their hours on a monthly basis for reimbursement. If they cannot come to work as scheduled, they must arrange for a substitute apprentice to work with the primary instructor.
• It is strongly impressed upon the apprentices that they represent our studio, its philosophy, and its reputation, but most importantly, that the younger dancers are always watching them. They must role model in the most positive of ways at all times.
• We have regular contact with most of our Alumni. Over the years, many of them have told us that the time they spent as an Apprentice proved to be invaluable to them as they moved forward in higher education and careers.
• The young people in the Apprentice Program are a wonder. They are incredibly talented, heart-warmingly loyal, and full of the desire to achieve. It is our distinct pleasure to have the chance to help them reach their greatest potential.